I cleaned the insides of a working and intact 500 (cleaning all but the dial) with mild soap and some water and soft toothbrush, softly blew out the excess moisture, and let it dry in the sun.
Now no dial tone. It did give a dial tone once, after the cleaning and drying, but not anymore. I checked all connections and wires. I'm kind of at a loss. Could I have killed the network or something with the moisture? I realize that I'm not really giving any clues to go on here. Just wondering if someone has had a similar experience.
Hobie
Check the transmitter circuit as it goes through the dial and hook switch contacts. If the central office does not see any current drawn by the phone, you get no dial tone.
What year is the phone? Did you remove the dial or any other component?
You could have submerged it in 10 feet of water and would not have hurt the network after drying out.
If you did not unhook anything, then I would check the hookswitch and the dial pulse contacts. Blow them each out with the canned air that is used for computers. If you did disconnect anything, then double check to see that you reconnected things the way they should go.
By the way, if you just let it sit and get all the way dry, it will probably go back onto good behavior. I had this problem with a touchtone dial once. I hit the surface of the dial with some 409. Somehow the mist got into the contacts. Afterwards it would not dial. In frustration I set the phone aside and came back in a couple of days ready to work on it, but it had dried out and worked perfectly.
Thanks Bill and Jorge!
I checked and cleaned the contacts on the dial and hook switch and they seem to be okay, though it's hard to say as I'm still pretty new to those tricky delicate parts. I've misplaced my circuit tester at the moment, so when I find it I'll give the phone attention again.
It's a really nice all matching dates December 1968 in good shape, and I had it advertised on Ebay before it started misbehaving, so I ended the auction. I'd keep it but it's too darn young for my tastes. Only a 40 year old whippersnapper.
Hobie:
Please do a close-up shot straight down on the network.... you may have a wire or two misplaced. It is hard to see for sure from the photo you have posted, but lets check that.
Here's a couple of network shots. But I didn't change any connections on the network (or anywhere else) and it worked before the cleaning. But I did fiddle with the dial rotor contacts and I'm not sure if I got them back in right. I'll have to take pics of those in the daylight. I'd better find my circuit tester tomorrow! :P
I'm betting that it will start to work again after a drying out time. It's a nice late style 500, would make a good addition to many a desk.
The phone may be wired for party Automatic Number Identification (ANI) amongst other things. Definitely not standard, but first check the dial pulse contacts, If you had the contact strip off, it is easy to get it back on cock-eyed.
To be resumed tomorrow, I guess...
Good Morning,
Here are some shots of the dial contacts (with the dial at rest and also halfway turned) and a general shot of the wiring.
Hobie:
The set of dial contacts on the right in your top picture are the dial pulse springs. The mechanism is supposed to open and close these springs once for every number dialed. While holding the dial upside-down in your hand, dial a zero and using your finger, let it return, but hold it back so it goes slow enough for you to get a good look at the pulsing. Are the two springs actually separating while it is pulsing, or are they just wiggling without opening and closing.
Also, what is the letter or letters suffix on the bottom of the phone? For instance, the standard run of the mill 500 is a 500 C/D.
You mentioned a circuit tester. Is it an ohm meter? (Hopefully it is)
Bill, as you mentioned the wiring of this 500 is not standard. In the last photo I see a terminal strip between the dial mounting. I'm wondering if it was a 510, two-line phone or some other phone that requires such a terminal strip.
Bill the dial pulse springs seem to be opening and closing as they should.
The letter suffix of the phone is actually "L/M 500" which I've never seen before. What does that tell us? And yes I believe I have an ohm meter as soon as I can find the little guy I'll let you know.
Thanks! -Matt
You may also need to get a battery for it if it has been sitting around for a year or more.
The 500 L/M is a standard 500 that has been set up for using one side of the hook switch as in a business key set, and one that was set up to have the ringer come in on a separate pair of wires in the line cord. Thus the need for the terminal strip under the dial.
Either way, wiring it is easy, but we do need to find out why it ain't working.
Okay, Good Doctor Bill; I found my multi-tester and indeed it needed a new battery. I'll need to go really slowly here and step by step, because not only am I electronically illiterate, I also know nothing about how to use the multitester, as I've only used it to check batteries on my lawnmower and electric boat.
I should also mention that I did replace the plug at the end of the line cord yesterday, so maybe we should start by testing my line cord. Here is the patient all opened up for surgery, and the multitester.
Hobie, did you replace the plug during your cleaning/servicing? I just had our 500 act up. Was plugging other phones into the jack normally reserved for our 500 for testing purposes. Next morning the phone rang but the 500 was silent. Thinking I forgot to plug it in I checked and it was plugged in. I plugged another phone in the jack and it worked. Worried the 500 broke, I started troubleshooting with the plug first. I wiggled the plug while listening for a dial tone and got one. Turns out the plug was not making contact properly though it did before.
Yeah I'd start with that plug and see if the problemo is there.
I will be available after about 6pm Pacific tonight. Looks like you are all prepared.
It's a really nice all matching dates December 1968 in good shape, and I had it advertised on Ebay before it started misbehaving, so I ended the auction. I'd keep it but it's too darn young for my tastes. Only a 40 year old whippersnapper.
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Seeing a 1968 500 get called "too young" and "a whippersnapper" made me laugh, especially since the one I use on my desk at the moment is my 1991 model. Perhaps it gives new meaning to the term "Baby Bell" :D
Matt:
I am available if you check in. I don't see you in the who's on line at this moment.
I've been doing other projects, but am ready to try to get this phone working anytime. I'm not sure where to start. Testing the line first makes sense, because I did put on a new jack, but I'm uneducated with the use of the multi tester. So if we can walk through this some more I'd greatly appreciate it!
I routinely submerge electronics in water to clean them.
The problem is not the watre, it's attempting to use it when wet.
I use high pressure compressed air to blow out the item, then usually let it set for A day or so, to insure it is dry. I've not had any problems with that method. Most people cringe when I set my vacuum cleaner out side, and touroughly drench it with the garden house to clean it out,
I then blow it out and let it set for awhile and just start using it.
D/P
Phone still misbehaving?
It turns out that the phone is fine now. The problem was in my phone line. I'll put this phone on Ebay, since it's a 1968; too new for my tastes. Anyone here born in December 1968? (Or an anniversary?)
December of 1968. I remember it well. Apollo 8 was first manned space flight to circle the moon and return to earth. For all of you old enough to recall..........It was Christmas time.......Sorry, I couldn't help but think of that when I read the date of December 1968.
Hey Hobie, what color is that phone?
Quote from: foots
Hey Hobie, what color is that phone?
;D Why, extra shiny black, of course! ;)
Photographing outdoors with nice light and reflections of trees, sky, flowers, etc. seems to really work well.
And thanks Dennis, I hadn't thought about the Apollo 8 date. The phone is on eBay now, my first listing ever. I started it at $15 and with a ridiculously high BIN price of $125, which I don't expect to get of course, but one never knows with eBay...
What's the item number Hobie. If you don't mind I'd like to take a look.
It's here, Dennis:
http://tinyurl.com/m9erf8
My first listing, and perhaps my description may seem overblown and pretentious, but that's the kind of thing I'd like to read as a buyer. If anyone has any suggestions to how better list/describe the phone I'm quite open to any constructive criticism...
Hobie I think it's an excellent listing. Very good description and it's obvious you believe in your product! Good luck!
Looks great! Hope you get a pretty penny for it.
Thanks guys. I really want to start selling many of my phones on eBay (once they're fixed up all purdy-like) so getting the first listing up and running is a good step for me, even if it doesn't sell for much. I thought I'd just start with the simple not-very-old black 500.
That is nice and shiny. You know Hobie, this simple not very old black phone is the very first image I think of when someone mentions phones. These, along with the black dial ones are classics, in my opinion.
Quote from: foots
That is nice and shiny. You know Hobie, this simple not very old black phone is the very first image I think of when someone mentions phones. These, along with the black dial ones are classics, in my opinion.
By the way, I got the shine using only Novus 2 and the Ryobi buffer. I did about three coats. It took a few buffs to get out a few of the scratches, otherwise the buffing work went really fast and easy. I love the Ryobi!
I just ordered the complete line of Novus 1-2-3 to try the "full Monty" so to speak, as I'd rather only use any sandpaper as a last resort for deep scratches. Also I'm really curious how the Novus 3 might work as the first rougher buff on bakelite, like on my AE 40s, and if the Novus 1 may ad an extra special last finishing touch. I also just really like using Novus as opposed to any "stronger stuff" because its so nice and benign, and doesn't stink, and I can do the polishing indoors.
And yes, the first phone I think of as a "classic rotary" would also be a black pre-1958 (or thereabouts) 500 with a black metal dial and leather feet. I have about ten of those to refurbish and sell, but most of the dials could use new paint. Right now I'm concentrating on the AE 40s.
Well, I didn't get any bids on the '68 500. I know it's not a "special" phone by any stretch, and at $15 plus $15 shipping I can see the difficulty here...no matter how much I appreciate the good ol' black 500s.
Still, it's good practice as I learn to refine my presentations on eBay. Not to be discouraged, I revised the listing, changed the title to maybe show up better in a search, added some color and design elements, etc..
http://tinyurl.com/m9erf8
If it doesn't sell this time around, maybe I'll just use the term "art deco" in the title. Kidding! ;) But I guess I could say "Not Art Deco" and that would be accurate and still show up in a search... ;D
Matt;
The only thing I would change in your ad, would be to remove the part where it says; "It seems to work" That jumped out at me. Avoid like the plaque any reference that is negagtive.
Don't out and out lie, but list known problems, but avoid specualtion of unknown problems.
D/P